# The Mont Cenis—The Fell Railway—The Great Tunnel Through the Alps explained — Scrambles Amongst the Alps in the Years 1860–69

> Chapter companion for Scrambles Amongst the Alps in the Years 1860–69 by Edward Whymper.

## What happens

Whymper describes the Mont Cenis pass, its transformation by Napoleon's road, and the subsequent Fell railway and the great Alpine tunnel. He details the engineering marvels, the dangers faced by workers, and the application of compressed air and hydraulic power, noting the low fatality rate and the successful junction of the tunnel in 1870.

## Themes in this chapter

### Scientific Observation

Whymper details the engineering principles of the Fell railway and the tunnel, including compressed air, hydraulic power, and geological predictions.

### Danger and Mortality

The chapter includes a table of fatal accidents in the tunnel and describes the risks faced by miners, especially from wagons and rockfalls.

### Human vs. Nature

The tunnel represents humanity's struggle to overcome the formidable Alpine barrier, using technology to bore through the mountains.

## Character check-ins

### Edward Whymper

Narrator and observer, travels through Mont Cenis and visits the tunnel works.

### M. Elie de Beaumont

Geologist who predicted the strata through which the tunnel would pass.

## Key lines

> The Fell railway, which was open about four years, was a line that well deserved attention.

The Fell railway operated for roughly four years and was a noteworthy engineering achievement.

_Whymper highlights the short-lived but innovative Fell railway._

> The total is insignificant when one considers the number of men engaged and the length of time over which it was spread, and it compares favourably with almost any other enterprise of similar magnitude.

The number of deaths was small relative to the workforce and duration, making the tunnel safer than many comparable projects.

_Whymper comments on the relatively low fatality rate of the tunnel construction._

> There was not a single steam-engine on the works; everything was done with compressed air, or by hydraulic power.

The tunnel works used no steam engines, relying entirely on compressed air and hydraulic power.

_Whymper notes the innovative use of compressed air and hydraulics instead of steam._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/scrambles_amongst_the_alps_in_the_years_1860_69_se/chapters/iii-the-mont-cenis-the-fell-railway-the-great-tunnel-through-the-alps
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/scrambles_amongst_the_alps_in_the_years_1860_69_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/scrambles_amongst_the_alps_in_the_years_1860_69_se/chapters